The study, carried out by the researcher CONICET Gabriel Rabinovich and scientists from the University of Oxford, have tested, in both in vitro and in vivo models, the effectiveness of an antibody developed by Council researchers to reverse the progression of myelofibrosis, a haematological oncology disease. That’s what he titled it National Commission for Scientific and Technical Research the very important news he announced.
And no wonder: research has shown that the anti-Gal-1 monoclonal antibody, developed in Glycomedicine Laboratory of the Institute of Biology and Experimental Medicine (IBYME, CONICET-IBYME Foundation), Led by Rabinovich, he managed to stop the progression of the neoplasm and reverse the pathological state. And the discovery was published in a top-level scientific journal: Science Translational Medicine, from the Science group.
How did this joint work between Argentinians and Oxford members come about? Myelofibrosis is a blood cancer, a disease in which patients begin to have mutations in their genes throughout their lives. After reaching the age of 60, this bone marrow (from which red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets come, i.e. the cells that circulate in the blood) becomes fibrous, which implies that there are cells that begin to occupy the bone medulla. Place where blood cells, which grow and differentiate, should be located. They begin to bother, to scar that marrow, which becomes hard and prevents the production of blood components. Result: anemia, alterations of red blood cells, platelets and white blood cells.
“Two scientists from University of Oxford, Beth Psaila and Adam Mead, who have been working for many years in the search for new drugs because the disease has a very limited number of treatments available, contacted me,” says Gabriel Rabinovich.
And complete: “They compared the bone marrow of a patient with this fibrosis with a normal bone marrow, and in that comparison, which they did both in animal models and in bone marrows of human organoids of patients, they could see that when they started to explore which genes and proteins a bone marrow affected by myelofibrosis had, they found Galectin-1 (Gal-1), which we have been working with all our lives, since 1993. And that’s why they contacted us ”.
The British specialists asked Rabinovich’s team for the tools to block Gal-1 and called on their experience to be able to work together and complete the study.
“It’s a great pride. We sent them the antibody that we intend to bring to the clinic and in Oxford they were able to validate it. It is very important that they were able to verify that the antibody works very well and better than other therapies.”
At Oxford they not only verified that with the antibody developed by the Argentine team it was possible to block the development of spinal fibrosis, normalizing the production of blood cells, but they also noticed that the size of the spleen and liver of these patients (which in are usually very enlarged) becomes normal. Furthermore, they were able to verify that anti Gal-1 is an indicator of the prognosis of the evolution of the disease, a new therapeutic target against this cancer.
The collaboration between the two teams of researchers has always been virtual, they have not yet met in person, but it will continue. “They want to support the development of our antibody, so a
Gabriel Rabinovich’s work on galectins dates back decades, which has led to publications; The studies were supported by more than 320 scientific articles in the main world journals and gave rise to invention patents. Argentine scientists have discovered that in a large number of tumors, tumor cells produce about ten times the normal levels of Gal-1 and that they use this protein to grow, metastasize and prevent the body from eliminating them. Gal-1 It favors all the mechanisms that have to do with the growth of tumors: it allows them to escape the immune system, create new blood vessels and migrate to form metastases. Hence the development of the anti-Gal-1 antibody.
In August 2023, decades of work led to the launch of GALTEC, an Argentine technology-based company created by Gabriel Rabinovich together with colleagues from CONICET and professionals from different disciplines. The goal of GALTEC is the development of therapeutic strategies for the treatment of cancer, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Currently, the company has almost no national subsidies, but it has investors, such as White Lion. In the case of the laboratory there are non-profit foundations that contribute, such as the Rene Baron Foundation, Williams Foundation and also contributions from families, such as those of Ferioli, Ostry, Caravallo and Alfonso.
Gabriel Rabinovich: It was a big commitment for many years. GALTEC is a biotechnology company that aims to translate discoveries acquired over many years into pharmaceutical products and reach the population that needs them. And this implies double work, because it is not the same as doing science, since it requires a very large effort, new knowledge with new languages to be able to communicate with private investors and obtain the money necessary for development.
Rabinovich: We are giving a lot of importance to product development, because we already have the two platforms on which we are researching and working ready, that of autoimmunity and that of cancer. We have made a lot of progress to have the two platforms ready for production in parallel, with the idea of starting clinical trials in a year and a half, or two.
Rabinowitz: It’s very, very good. Whenever we go abroad, whether for research purposes, to give conferences or to collaborate on other studies, people trust our science very much. We publish a lot, in the best journals possible, have validated and confirmed results and produced reproducible science. Many times they ask themselves how it is possible to achieve all this in an environment that is sometimes so difficult economically and they notice the effort we have to make, sometimes much greater. Not only for the money they have available for research, but also because they receive a reagent in 24 hours, while we have to wait six months. But I believe what drives us forward is passion, a deep love for what we do and a commitment to underlining that the goal is to give more opportunities to patients with cancer and autoimmune diseases.
And he concludes: «For me it is important to underline the importance of the public university, because all this would have been impossible without that support. I am the result of the public University, all this work began in the National University of Córdoba, then continued in the University of Buenos Aires, it was supported by CONICET and it would have been impossible to reach this moment without the support of the Scientific Department Promotion Agency of the former Ministry of Science. It is
very important to take care of all this, because otherwise there will be no basic science capable of fueling any technological development and we will become a country incapable of generating its own knowledge. And governing means giving opportunities.
Interview: Time.news Editor with Dr. Gabriel Rabinovich on Myelofibrosis and Antibody Development
Editor: Good afternoon, Dr. Rabinovich. Thank you for joining us today. Your groundbreaking research on the anti-Gal-1 monoclonal antibody is garnering significant attention. Can you start by explaining what myelofibrosis is and why it’s such a complex disease?
Dr. Rabinovich: Good afternoon! Myelofibrosis is a type of blood cancer that affects the bone marrow. Over time, mutations in specific genes can lead to the marrow becoming fibrous, which disrupts its normal function. This results in inadequate production of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets—ultimately leading to anemia and other serious health complications. As patients age, especially beyond 60, the disease progresses, making treatment quite challenging due to the limited options available.
Editor: That certainly sounds troubling. How did your collaboration with the University of Oxford come about, and what role did Galectin-1 play in your studies?
Dr. Rabinovich: The collaboration started when two scientists from Oxford, Beth Psaila and Adam Mead, reached out to me. They had been researching new drug options due to the scarcity of effective treatments for myelofibrosis. By comparing metal marrow samples from affected patients with healthy samples, they identified Galectin-1, a protein we’ve been studying for decades. It became clear that inhibiting Gal-1 could be a viable approach, and that’s when they sought my team’s expertise.
Editor: Fascinating! Your team managed to develop an antibody that could potentially reverse the progression of this disease. Could you elaborate on your findings and what implications they have for treatment?
Dr. Rabinovich: Absolutely! We developed the anti-Gal-1 monoclonal antibody, which, when tested in both animal and human models, effectively halted the progression of myelofibrosis. Remarkably, it also normalized blood cell production and reduced the size of enlarged organs like the spleen and liver, which are often affected in these patients. Our findings not only demonstrate the antibody’s therapeutic potential but also provide a new prognostic indicator for the disease’s progression, paving the way for more targeted treatments.
Editor: That’s truly revolutionary work! However, managing a biotech company like GALTEC comes with its own set of challenges. Can you shed some light on that aspect?
Dr. Rabinovich: Certainly. Establishing GALTEC is about translating our scientific discoveries into practical treatments. It requires a different skill set compared to academic research—navigating business, engaging with investors, and understanding regulatory processes. Despite the challenges, we are diligently working on two platforms focusing on cancer and autoimmunity, aiming to start clinical trials within the next year and a half.
Editor: It must be gratifying to see your years of dedication come to fruition. How do you envision the future of this collaboration with Oxford and the development of cancer therapies more broadly?
Dr. Rabinovich: I am hopeful. The collaboration has been primarily virtual so far, but our continued partnership promises to enhance the research and development process. By merging our efforts, we aim to bring effective treatments to patients who desperately need them. The ultimate goal is to combat cancer more effectively, and I believe that with persistent effort and innovation, we can make significant strides.
Editor: Thank you, Dr. Rabinovich. Your work is truly inspiring and holds immense promise for patients worldwide. We look forward to hearing more about your continued progress in the field!
Dr. Rabinovich: Thank you for having me! I appreciate the opportunity to share our work, and I look forward to the future of cancer treatment as well.